Apparatus for depositing chocolate chips and the like onto edible food products

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method are provided for depositing chips of chocolate, fudge, and the like on food products. The apparatus comprises a hopper shaped to retain the chips therein, and a depositor roll having a peripheral surface with a plurality of recessed pockets into which the chips are received. A feed plate extends from an outlet portion of the hopper to the depositor roll at an elevation substantially commensurate with the longitudinal axis of the depositor roll. The feed plate preferably has a length which is greater than twice the dimension of one of the chips to form a dynamic, free-surface reservoir in which the chips temporarily pool prior to lodging in the depositor roll pockets. When the depositor roll is rotated, the chips continuously feed from the hopper, along the feed plate, and into the depositor roll pockets. The chips are gently swept upwardly in the pockets out of the chip reservoir, and deposited onto food products conveyed under the depositor roll, without breaking or smashing the chips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of edible food processing,and in particular, to an apparatus and method of depositing chips ofchocolate, fudge, and the like onto food products.

In the processing of certain types of edible, human food products,relatively fragile bits or chips of confection are deposited onto foodarticles conveyed therebelow. For example, in the manufacture of granolabars, and other similar food items, morsels or chips of chocolate orfudge (hereinafter referred to as "chips") are sprinkled on top of acontinuously moving sheet or layer of granola. The chips are depositedat a predetermined flow rate, which is varied to coordinate with thespeed of the overall process. The chips and the granola are subsequentlypressed together, and cut to shape.

The chips are typically quite soft and fragile, such that they must behandled very gently in order to avoid breaking and/or smashing thechips, which can clog the chip depositor, and/or detract from theappearance and quality of the processed food article. Conventionaldepositor machines and methods that are presently used in the foodprocessing industry tend to break up such soft chips, and smash or mashthe chips into the machine, which results in food waste, and requiresexpensive and time consuming cleaning and repair.

Furthermore, in the food processing art, it is important that thevarious ingredients of the food product flow continuously through themachine, without stagnating at any point in the process. Otherwise, thefood ingredients will collect and deteriorate with age, thereby causingboth waste, and possible sanitation problems.

It is also important in the food processing art that the amounts of thevarious ingredients in the food product be controlled carefully, so asto consistently provide food products of uniform quality andcomposition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus fordepositing chips of chocolate, fudge, and the like onto food productswithout breaking or smashing the chips. The apparatus comprises a hoppershaped to retain the chips therein, and a depositor roll having aperipheral surface with a plurality of recessed pockets into which thechips are received. A feed plate extends from an outlet portion of thehopper to the depositor roll at an elevation substantially commensuratewith the longitudinal axis of the depositor roll. The feed platepreferably has a length which is greater than twice the largestdimension one of of the chips, and produces a dynamic, free-surfacereservoir in which the chips temporarily pool prior to lodging in thedepositor roll pockets. When the depositor roll is rotated, the chipscontinuously feed from the hopper along the feed plate, and gently intothe depositor roll pockets. The chips are then swept upwardly in thepockets, out of the chip reservoir, and deposited onto the food productsthat are conveyed under the depositor roll.

Preferably, the feed plate is inclined downwardly, so that the chipsfeed into the depositor roll by virtue of gravitational forces, and anadjustable metering device is provided on the hopper to adjust chip flowonto the feed plate. The depositor roll may be powered by a variablespeed motor and/or gearbox to adjust the rate at which the chips aredistributed onto the food products.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide anapparatus and method for gently depositing chips of chocolate, fudge,and other soft or crumbly food bits onto various food products, withoutbreaking or smashing the chips. The chip depositor has a continuous feedwhich is capable of rapid food processing, without requiring a stagnantreservoir in which the chips can collect and deteriorate with age. Thechip depositor is quite reliable, and fully adjustable to evenlydistribute different chip patterns and flow rates. The depositor has anuncomplicated construction which is efficient in use, relativelyeconomical to manufacture, capable of a long operating life, easy tomaintain, and particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

These and other features, advantages and objects of the presentinvention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled inthe art by reference to the following written specification, claims andappended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chip depositor embodying the presentinvention, and illustrates a method for depositing chocolate chips andthe like onto edible food products.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the chip depositor, with portionsthereof broken away to reveal internal construction.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the chip depositor.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the chip depositor, takenalong the line IV--IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of an adjustable hopper sidewallportion of the chip depositor.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the adjustable hopper sidewall, with aportion thereof broken away.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, partially schematic, vertical cross-sectionalview of the chip depositor, showing the chips feeding into a depositorroll portion thereof.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, partially schematic, vertical cross-sectionalview of the chip depositor, showing the chips being dispensed from thedepositor roll onto food products conveyed therebelow.

FIG. 9 is an exploded, perspective view of the chip depositor.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the chip depositor, wherein anadjustable feed gate portion thereof has been removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper," "lower," "right,""left," "rear," "front," "vertical," "horizontal" and derivativesthereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, itis to be understood that the invention may assume various alternativeorientations, and step sequences, except where expressly specified tothe contrary.

The reference numeral 1 (FIG. 1) generally designates a depositor 1 fordispensing or scattering chips 2 of chocolate, fudge, and the like ontofood products, such as the illustrated sheet of granola 3. Chipdepositor 1 comprises a hopper 4 shaped to retain the chips 2 therein,and a depositor roll 5 having a peripheral surface 6 with a plurality ofrecessed pockets 7 in which the chips 2 are received. A feed plate 8(FIG. 2) extends from an outlet portion 9 of hopper 4 to depositor roll5 at an elevation substantially commensurate with longitudinal axis 10of depositor roll 5. Feed plate 8 preferably has a length which isgreater than twice the largest dimension of one of the chips 2 toproduce a dynamic, free-surface reservoir 11 in which the chips 2temporarily pool prior to lodging in the depositor roll pockets 7. Whendepositor roll 5 is rotated about axis 10, the chips 2 continuously feedfrom hopper 4, along feed plate 8, and gently into the pocket 7 ofdepositor roll 5. The chips 2 are then swept upwardly in pockets 7 outof chip reservoir 11, and are deposited onto the granola sheet 3conveyed under depositor roll 5, without breaking or smashing the chips2. Feed plate 8 introduces the chips 2 to depositor roll 5 at anelevation which prevents the chips 2 from being carried over the top ofdepositor roll 5, or otherwise overshooting reservoir 11.

The chips 2 for which depositor 1 is specifically designed to dispenseor distribute are small bits, chunks or morsels of relatively soft,frangible, or crumbly material, such as chocolate, fudge, pretzelsticks, peanuts, marshmallows, fruit bits, and the like. It is to beunderstood that the term "chip" or "chips," as used herein, is intendedto encompass all such articles, as well as other similar discrete foodbits, which are soft, frangible, and/or crumbly and are preferablyapplied to the food product whole or intact, without breakage ordeformation. In the illustrated example, chips 2 (FIGS. 7 and 8)comprise conventional drops or conically-shaped bits of chocolate. Theillustrated chips 2 have a substantially uniform size and shape tofacilitate even distribution of the chips 2 onto granola sheet 3, asdescribed in greater detail hereinafter.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, the illustrated hopper 4comprises a pair of end frames 16 and 17, a front wall 18, a rear wall19, an inclined bottom 20, and adjustable sidewalls 21 and 22. Supportblocks 23 and 24 are rigidly attached to end frames 16 and 17, andextend forwardly thereof to facilitate mounting depositor roll 5thereon. A support plate 25 is mounted on support block 24, and extendslaterally outwardly therefrom. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 9 and10, end frames 16 and 17 are constructed from rigid, square tubing, andhave a substantially rectangular side elevational shape, with a frontleg 26, a rear leg 27, an upper leg 28, and a lower leg 29. Feet 30 areattached to the lower portions of end frames 16 and 17, and extendlaterally inwardly thereof to assist in supporting chip depositor 1 on awork surface.

The front wall 18 of hopper 4 comprises a flat panel, with upper andlower flanges 34 and 35 respectively. Front wall 18 is fixedly attachedto the rear faces of end frame front legs 26. The rear wall 19 of hopper4 comprises a flat panel having its lower edge attached to the rear edgeof hopper bottom 20, and includes an inwardly turned flange 38 extendingalong its upper edge. Rear wall 19 is attached to the rearward faces ofend frame rear legs 27. The bottom 20 of hopper 4 comprises a flatpanel, having a downwardly turned peripheral edge or apron 40. The sideedges of hopper bottom 20 are rigidly attached to the front and rearlegs 26 and 27 of end frames 16 and 17. With reference to FIG. 2, in theillustrated configuration of the present invention, hopper bottom 20 isinclined downwardly, and extends from rear wall 19 into a positionadjacent to the peripheral surface 6 of depositor roll 5, therebydefining both the bottom of hopper 4, and feed plate 8. However, it isto be understood that the present invention contemplates that feed plate8 may be separate from hopper 4.

Adjustable sidewalls 21 and 22 (FIGS. 5 and 6) are substantiallyidentical in construction, and have a generally trapezoidal sideelevational shape, comprising a flat vertical plate 44, with a laterallyextending upper flange 45, front flange 46, rear flange 47 and bottomflange 48. A ledge 49 extends perpendicularly from the lower edge offront flange 46 to facilitate attaching adjustable sidewalls 21 and 22to hopper 4 in the manner described below. Reservoir side guards 50 and51 are formed integrally on the lower, forward portions of hoppersidewalls 21 and 22, and each includes an arcuate forward edge 52 thatis shaped to mate closely with the peripheral surface 6 of depositorroll 5.

Bottom flange 48 extends all the way from rear flange 47 to thelowermost surface of forward edge 52. Reservoir sides 50 and 51 alsoinclude an upper flange 53, and a vertically extending slot 54 disposedbetween ledge 49 and flange 53 for purposes to be described below.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, adjustable sidewalls 21 and 22are closely received in the interior of hopper 4, and extend along frontwall 18, rear wall 19, and bottom 20. The upper flanges 45 of sidewalls20 and 21 extend underneath the upper flanges 34 and 38 of front wall 18and rear wall 19. The reservoir sides 50 and 51 of adjustable sidewalls21 and 22 extend through the outlet opening 9 of hopper 4, and protrudeforwardly of hopper front wall 18. The ledge portions 49 of adjustablesidewalls 21 and 22 are positioned directly below the lower flange 35 ofhopper front wall 18. Hopper sidewalls 21 and 22 are shaped so that theyslide laterally within hopper 4 to adjust the width of the chipdistribution pattern. A plurality of clips 58 detachably mountadjustable sidewalls 21 and 22 within hopper 4 at the selected lateralposition. In the illustrated structure, both sidewalls 21 and 22 areattached to hopper 4 by three clips 58, located at opposite sides ofupper flanges 45, and at ledge 49.

The illustrated depositor roll 5 has a cylindrical shape, and extendslaterally across chip distributor 1 at a forward portion thereof. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, depositor roll 5 comprises anelongated shaft 60 on which a plurality of separate discs 61 are mountedin a side-by-side fashion. Discs 61 have a width greater than thelargest dimension of one of the chips 2, and in the illustrated example,are approximately 5/8 inches wide. Discs 61 may be rotated on shaft 60with respect to each other, so as to achieve a selected distributionpattern. A threaded clamping collar 62 securely retains discs 61 in theselected angular configuration.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, depositor roll pockets 7 comprisegrooves 65 in the peripheral surface of the discs 61, which extendaxially from one side of the disc to the other. Hence, when the discgrooves 65 are in substantial alignment, the pockets 7 have open ends,which do not laterally constrain or positively retain the chips therein.This open ended pocket provided by grooves 65 reduces chip breakage, andalso facilitates chip withdrawal. The illustrated discs 61 have anoutside diameter of approximately 6 inches, and each disc includessixteen grooves 65 that are spaced evenly about the circumference of thedisc.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, pockets 7 are substantiallyidentical in configuration, and have a unique, saw-tooth, verticalcross-sectional shape which facilitates efficiently picking the chips 2from reservoir 11, without breaking the same. In this example, eachpocket 7 is defined by a leading surface 68, a bottom surface 69, and atrailing surface 70. Pocket 7 has a relatively flat bottom surface 69oriented generally perpendicular to a radial reference plane 71, whichextends from the longitudinal axis 10 of depositor roll 5 through thecenter of pocket 7. The trailing surface 70 of pocket 7 is alsorelatively flat, and is oriented substantially parallel with radialreference plane 71. Trailing surface 70 intersects the peripheralsurface 6 of depositor roll 5 at an angle of approximately 90 degrees tofacilitate picking the chips 2 out of reservoir 11. An arcuate radiusarea 72 is provided in pocket 7 at the intersection of bottom surface 69and trailing surface 70. The leading surface 68 of pocket 7 is alsosubstantially flat, but is inclined in the direction of depositor rollrotation to facilitate chip withdrawal. Preferably, leading surface 68is inclined at an angle in the range of 35 to 55 degrees, and moreparticularly 45 degrees, from radial reference plane 71.

Preferably, pockets 7 (FIGS. 7 and 8) have a radially measured depththat is sized to receive at least one chip 2 therein, and acircumferentially measured width and an axially measured length sized toreceive a single chip 2 wholly therein, such that each of the pockets 7accept only a single layer of chips 2 from reservoir 11, and those chips2 disposed in pockets 7 do not normally protrude outwardly therefrom. Inthis manner, those chips which lodge in pockets 7 are not jarred out ofthe pockets 7 by contact with adjacent chips in reservoir 11.Furthermore, as depositor roll 5 sweeps through reservoir 11, there isno grinding action among the chips that would cause them to break. Thechips 2 are lifted gently and consistently from reservoir 11.

Depositor roll 5 (FIG. 3) is supported on end frames 16 and 17 of hopper4 by a pair of bearings or pillow blocks 75 and 76. A shim 77 may bepositioned between pillow blocks 75 and 76 and the associated supportblocks 23 and 24 to facilitate varying the elevation of depositor roll 5with respect to feed plate 8 for those purposes described below. Amotor/gearbox 78 is mounted on support plate 25, and is connected withthe adjacent end of depositor roll shaft 60 by a coupling 79, such thatactivation of motor/gearbox 78 rotates depositor roll 5 about itslongitudinal axis 10 at a variable rate of rotation.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a slide gate 85 is mounted on theforward portion of hopper 4 to meter the flow of chips 2 through theoutlet opening 9 of hopper 4. Slide gate 85 comprises a rigid, flatpanel with a flanged upper edge 86, a lower edge 87 and opposing sideedges 88. Vertically oriented slots 89 are positioned at the oppositesides of slide gate 85, and are shaped to closely receive therethroughmating, threaded studs 90 mounted on the forward faces of front framelegs 26. Wing nuts 91 are attached to threaded studs 90, and adjustablymount slide gate 85 on hopper 4 for selected vertical movement. As bestillustrated in FIG. 2, the lower edge 87 of slide gate 85, inconjunction with a vertically aligned portion of hopper bottom 20, formsan adjustable orifice 92 through which the chips 2 flow by virtue ofgravitational forces from hopper 4 onto feed plate 8 and depositor roll5. In the illustrated example, slide gate 85 is positioned so that onlya single layer of chips 2 is dispensed from hopper 4 onto feed plate 8.

The one-piece hopper bottom 20 and feed plate 8 is flat, and ispreferably inclined downwardly at an angle in the range of 35 to 55degrees from the horizon, more specifically around 45 degrees, such thatthe chips 2 flow from hopper 4 into depositor roll 5 by virtue ofgravitational forces alone, in order to minimize chip breakage. Theillustrated feed plate 8 has a length in the range of 2 to 4 inches, andmore specifically, approximately 3 inches. The outermost edge 95 of feedplate 8 is positioned adjacent to the peripheral surface 6 of depositorroll 5, at an elevation generally commensurate with the elevation of thelongitudinal axis 10 of depositor roll 5. In the illustrated example,feed plate edge 95 is spaced apart from the peripheral surface 6 ofdepositor roll 5 by an amount that is substantially smaller than thelargest dimension of one of the chips 2, such as a dimension in therange of 0.10 to 0.05 inches. Furthermore, it is preferred that feedplate edge 95 be disposed at an elevation slightly below the elevationof a horizontal reference plane 96 passing through the longitudinal axis10 of depositor roll 5, so that gravity provides positive feed of thechips into pockets 7. More particularly, it is preferred that feed plateedge 95 lie in a plane (coplanar with hopper bottom 20) which intersectsthe peripheral surface 6 of depositor roll 5 at an angle in the range of15 to 25 degrees from horizontal reference plane 96, and morespecifically, around 20 degrees. The point at which the chips 2 areintroduced to pocket 7 on feed plate 8 is believed to be important toprevent chip breakage, and also to prevent the chips from overshootingreservoir 11, or otherwise flowing over depositor roll 5, outside ofpockets 7.

In operation, the sidewalls 21 and 22 of hopper 4 are laterally adjustedso that they coincide with the width of granola sheet 3. Hoppersidewalls 21 and 22 are then securely locked in place at the desiredposition by clips 58. Slide gate 85 is adjusted vertically in accordancewith the size of the chips 2, and the desired distribution pattern.Under normal circumstances, it is preferred that slide gate 85 beadjusted so as to permit only a single layer of the chips 2 to bedispensed onto feed plate 8. In this manner, reservoir 11 will containonly that amount of chips necessary to efficiently and consistently fillpockets 7, without any unnecessary rubbing or bumping between the chipsin reservoir 11. The chips 2 are then deposited into hopper 4, andmotor/gearbox 78 is activated to rotate depositor roll 5 in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. The speed of depositorroll rotation is varied with respect to the speed at which granola sheet3 is conveyed thereunder to produce the desired chip feed rate anddistribution pattern. As depositor roll 5 is rotated, the chips 2continuously feed from hopper 4 along feed plate 8 to reservoir 11. Sidepanels 50 and 51 keep the chips 2 from translating laterally off ofdepositor roll 5. The chips 2 then lodge in the pockets 7 of depositorroll 5, and are thence swept upwardly out of reservoir 11, translatedaround to the forward side of depositor roll 5, and fall out of pockets7 onto the granola sheet 3 moving thereunder. The operator may alsoadjust the elevation of depositor roll 5 with respect to feed plate 8 byvarying shims 77 in order to minimize chip breakage.

Chip depositor 1 is capable of gently depositing chips of chocolate,fudge, and other soft food bits onto food products, like the illustratedgranola sheet 3, without breaking or smashing the chips 2. The chipdepositor has a unique feed arrangement which is capable of continuouslyfeeding the chips 2 in a rapid and reliable manner, without requiringany large reservoir area in which the chips can stagnate, and thendeteriorate with age. Adjustable hopper sidewalls 21 and 22, adjustableslide gate 85 and variable motor/gearbox 78 facilitate easily adaptingthe chip depositor for a wide variety of different applications.

In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that modifications may be made to the inventionwithout departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modificationsare to be considered as included in the following claims, unless theseclaims by their language expressly state otherwise.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. An apparatus fordepositing chips of chocolate, fudge, and the like, on food products,comprising:a feed hopper shaped to retain a plurality of chips therein,and having an outlet opening through which the chips are dispensed fromsaid hopper; a depositor roll mounted for rotation about a longitudinalaxis thereof, and having a peripheral surface with a plurality ofrecessed pockets shaped for receiving the chips therein; a feed platehaving a first end thereof positioned adjacent to the outlet opening ofsaid hopper, and a second end thereof positioned adjacent to theperipheral surface of said depositor roll at an elevation generallycommensurate with the elevation of the longitudinal axis of saiddepositor roll; said feed plate having a length measured between saidfirst and second ends which is greater than twice the largest dimensionof one of the chips, thereby defining a dynamic, free-surface reservoirbetween said hopper outlet opening and the peripheral surface of saiddepositor roll in which the chips temporarily pool prior to lodging inthe pockets of said depositor roll; means for flowing the chips oversaid feed plate from the outlet opening of said hopper to saidreservoir; and means for rotating said depositor roll about thelongitudinal axis thereof, whereby the chips continuously feed from saidhopper along said feed plate, and into the pockets of said depositorroll, and are thence swept upwardly out of said reservoir, and depositedonto food products conveyed therebelow without breaking the chips.
 2. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said feed plate is inclineddownwardly from the outlet opening of said hopper to the peripheralsurface of said depositor roll, whereby the chips flow along said feedplate under gravitational forces, and define at least a portion of saidchip flowing means.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2,wherein:said pockets each have a radially measured depth sized toreceive at least one chip therein, and a circumferentially measuredwidth and an axially measured length sized to receive a single chipwholly therein, such that each of said pockets picks only a single layerof chips from said reservoir, and those chips disposed in said pocketsdo not normally protrude outwardly therefrom.
 4. An apparatus as setforth in claim 3, including:means for metering the flow of chips throughsaid hopper outlet opening, whereby only a single layer of chips isdispensed from said hopper onto said feed plate.
 5. An apparatus as setforth in claim 4, including:means for adjusting said chip metering meansto adapt said apparatus for dispensing differently sized chips.
 6. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein:said feed plate includes aforwardmost edge which is disposed adjacent to the peripheral surface ofsaid depositor roll at an elevation slightly below the elevation of ahorizontal reference plane passing through the longitudinal axis of saiddepositor roll.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein:saidforwardmost edge of said feed plate lies in a plane which intersects theperipheral surface of said depositor roll at an angle in the range of 15to 25 degrees from said horizontal reference plane.
 8. An apparatus asset forth in claim 7, wherein:said pockets comprise a plurality ofaxially extending grooves in the peripheral surface of said depositorroll, whereby said pockets have open ends which do not laterallyconstrain the chips therein.
 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8,wherein:said hopper comprises a front wall, a rear wall spaced apartfrom said front wall, opposing sidewalls, and an inclined bottom; andsaid hopper front wall includes a lowermost edge spaced apart apredetermined distance from the upper surface of said bottom to definesaid outlet opening therebetween.
 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim9, wherein:said hopper bottom is flat, and inclined downwardly from saidrear wall to said front wall at an angle in the range of 35 to 55degrees.
 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein:said feedplate is integral and coplanar with said hopper bottom.
 12. An apparatusas set forth in claim 11, wherein:said hopper sidewalls are horizontallyadjustable in said hopper to converge and diverge the same for varyingthe width of the chip distribution pattern on the food products.
 13. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein:said pockets are eachdefined by a bottom surface, a leading surface, and a trailing surface;said pockets are positioned along a radial reference plane which extendsfrom the longitudinal axis of said depositor roll through the center ofsaid pockets; and said pockets each have the leading surface thereofinclined at an angle in the range of 35 to 55 degrees from theassociated radial reference plane to facilitate withdrawal of the chipsfrom said depositor roll.
 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13,wherein the bottom surface of each of said pockets is substantiallyflat.
 15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein:the trailingsurface of said pockets intersects the peripheral surface of saiddepositor roll at an angle in the range of 80 to 100 degrees tofacilitate picking the chips out of said reservoir.
 16. An apparatus asset forth in claim 15, wherein:said depositor roll comprises a pluralityof disks mounted side-by-side on a shaft; said disks being pivotallyadjustable on said shaft to vary the pattern of chip distribution ontothe food products.
 17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, whereinsaid chip metering means and said metering adjustment means collectivelycomprise:a slide gate detachably connected with said hopper front wallfor vertical adjustment thereon; said slide gate having a lowermost edgewhich, in conjunction with a vertically aligned portion of said hopperbottom, forms an adjustable orifice through which the chips flow byvirtue of gravitational force from said hopper to said feed plate. 18.An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein:said depositor rollrotating means is adjustable to vary the speed of rotation of saiddepositor roll with respect to the speed at which the food products areconveyed thereunder to produce different chip feed rates anddistribution patterns.
 19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 18,including:a conveyor on which the food products are translated beneathsaid depositor roll; and means for adjusting the elevation of saiddepositor roll with respect to the elevation of said conveyor.
 20. Anapparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein:said feed plate length is inthe range of 2 to 4 inches.
 21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein:said pockets each have a radially measured depth sized toreceive at least one chip therein, and a circumferentially measuredwidth and an axially measured length sized to receive a single chipwholly therein, such that each of said pockets picks only a single layerof chips from said reservoir, and those chips disposed in said pocketsdo not normally protrude outwardly therefrom.
 22. An apparatus as setforth in claim 1, including:means for metering the flow of chips throughsaid hopper outlet opening, whereby only a single layer of chips isdispensed from said hopper onto said feed plate.
 23. An apparatus as setforth in claim 1, wherein:said feed plate includes a forwardmost edgewhich is disposed adjacent to the peripheral surface of said depositorroll at an elevation slightly below the elevation of a horizontalreference plane passing through the longitudinal axis of said depositorroll.
 24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein:saidforwardmost edge of said feed plate lies in a plane which intersects theperipheral surface of said depositor roll at an angle in the range of 15to 25 degrees from said horizontal reference plane.
 25. An apparatus asset forth in claim 1, wherein:said pockets comprise a plurality ofaxially extending grooves in the peripheral surface of said depositorroll, whereby the pockets have open ends which do not laterallyconstrain the chips therein.
 26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein:said hopper comprises a front wall, a rear wall spaced apartfrom said front wall, opposing sidewalls, and an inclined bottom; saidhopper front wall includes a lowermost edge spaced apart a predetermineddistance from the upper surface of said bottom to define said outletopening therebetween; and said hopper bottom is flat, and inclineddownwardly from said rear wall to said front wall at an angle in therange of 35 to 55 degrees.
 27. An apparatus as set forth in claim 26,wherein:said feed plate is integral and coplanar with said hopperbottom.
 28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said hopperincludes opposing sidewalls which are horizontally adjustable in saidhopper to converge and diverge the same for varying the width of thechip distribution pattern on the food products.
 29. An apparatus as setforth in claim 1, wherein:said pockets are each defined by a bottomsurface, a leading surface, and a trailing surface; said pockets arepositioned along a radial reference plane which extends from thelongitudinal axis of said depositor roll through the center of saidpockets; and said pockets each have the leading surface thereof inclinedat an angle in the range of 35 to 55 degrees from the associated radialreference plane to facilitate withdrawal of the chips from saiddepositor roll.
 30. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:saidpockets are each defined by a bottom surface, a leading surface, and atrailing surface; and said trailing surface of each of said pocketsintersects the peripheral surface of said depositor roll at an angle inthe range of 80 to 100 degrees to facilitate picking the chips out ofsaid reservoir.
 31. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:saiddepositor roll comprises a plurality of discs mounted side-by-side on ashaft; said discs being pivotally adjustable on said shaft to vary thepattern of chip distribution onto the food products.
 32. An apparatus asset forth in claim 1, wherein:said depositor roll rotating means isadjustable to vary the speed of rotation of said depositor roll withrespect to the speed at which the food products are conveyed thereunderto produce different chip distribution patterns.
 33. An apparatus as setforth in claim 1, including:a conveyor on which the food products aretranslated beneath said depositor roll; and means for adjusting theelevation of said depositor roll with respect to the elevation of saidconveyor.
 34. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein:said feedplate length is in the range of 2 to 4 inches.